Headwear

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides headwear including a crown portion for being worn on a head of a wearer, a visor portion projecting from the crown portion, and an elastic apparatus applying an elastic force to the crown portion such that the crown portion remains in a predetermined shape. Such headwear can retain its original shape or form, strongly withstanding distortion or wrinkles, such that its value as merchandise is preserved.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Generally, the present invention relates to headwear such as a cap and a hat. More particularly, the present invention relates to headwear that can maintain the shape of its crown portion while being transported.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In general, headwear such as a cap and a hat includes a crown portion for being worn on a head of a wearer, and a visor combined with the crown portion. When such headwear is pressed down, e.g., by other headwear or clothing over a long period of storage, it usually suffers from distortion of its shape, or wrinkles.

[0003] In addition, when such headwear is stacked for a long period of transportation, it also suffers from easy distortion of the shape of its crown portion, or wrinkles, and accordingly the grade of the headwear as merchandise is is easily deteriorated.

[0004] Furthermore, when the crown portion of headwear is made of soft materials such as a knitted fabric, its shape is difficult to maintain even during display or exhibition, so a customer's interest may be easily diminished.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Therefore, the motivation for the present invention is to provide headwear having a non-limiting advantage of strongly withstanding distortion and/or wrinkles of the crown portion.

[0006] Exemplary headwear according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a crown portion for being worn on a head of a wearer, a visor portion projecting from the crown portion, and an elastic apparatus applying elastic force to the crown portion such that the crown portion retains a predetermined shape.

[0007] In a further embodiment, the elastic apparatus applies the elastic force in an outward direction of the crown portion, wherein the elastic apparatus preferably includes at least one elastic rib or wire.

[0008] In another further embodiment, the headwear further includes a circumferential portion combined with an interior side of the crown portion such that a space is formed within the circumferential portion and the interior side of the crown portion. Preferably, the circumferential portion includes an elastic band.

[0009] In yet another further embodiment, the crown portion includes a plurality of panels stitched to one another, and the elastic apparatus includes at least one elastic member that is combined with the stitched portion of the panels and elastically supports the crown portion. Preferably, the elastic member is combined with the stitched portion by sewing or by an adhesive.

[0010] In yet another further embodiment, the crown portion includes a plurality of panels stitched to one another, the headwear further including a cover member combined with the stitched portion of the panels, and the elastic apparatus includes at least one elastic member that is provided between the cover member and an interior side of the crown portion.

[0011] Headwear of such an embodiment can retain its form or shape since an elastic apparatus elastically supports an interior side of a crown portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention:

[0013]FIG. 1 illustrates headwear according to preferred embodiments of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 2 illustrates an elastic apparatus for headwear according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 3 illustrates an elastic apparatus for headwear according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along a line A-A of FIG. 3;

[0017]FIG. 5 illustrates headwear according to a third or fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along a line B-B of FIG. 5 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

[0019]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along a line B-B of FIG. 5 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021]FIG. 1 is a drawing for illustrating common features of headwear according to several embodiments of the present invention, wherein the headwear is shown upside down.

[0022] According to embodiments of the present invention, headwear includes a crown portion 1 for being worn on a head of a wearer, and a visor portion 3 projecting from the crown portion 1 such that the visor portion 3 can block sunlight.

[0023] The crown portion 1 is provided, at its interior circumference, with a circumferential portion 5 that directly contacts the head of the wearer. A space is formed within the circumferential portion 5 and the interior side of the crown portion 1, and an elastic apparatus 8 is fit in the space and applies elastic force to the crown portion 1 in an outward direction thereof. The circumferential portion 5 may be made of typical materials known in the art, and in particular, it preferably includes an elastic band.

[0024] The elastic apparatus 8 elastically supports the interior side of the crown portion 1 such that the crown portion 1 is free from distortion and wrinkles.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, according to embodiments of the present invention, the elastic apparatus 8 includes a plurality of elastic ribs 7 such that the elasticity of the ribs 7 may form an elastic force applied to the crown portion 1 in the outward direction. However, the scope of the present invention should not be understood to be limited thereto. For example, the elastic ribs 7 may be replaced with wires (not shown), which is obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

[0026]FIG. 2 illustrates an elastic apparatus for headwear according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] According the first embodiment, the elastic ribs 7 in the elastic apparatus 8 are strip shaped and arranged at arbitrary intervals. However, it is notable that the shape of the elastic apparatus 8 and/or the elastic ribs 7 is not limited thereto, since it may be varied in variety under the condition that the interior side of crown portion 1 is elastically supported such that wrinkles of the crown portion 1 are prevented.

[0028] The elastic ribs 7 are preferably made of a synthetic resin having good elasticity. However, they may also be made of any other material having sufficient elasticity to support the interior side of the crown portion 1.

[0029] Ends of the elastic ribs 7 are fit in the space formed within the circumferential portion 5 and the crown portion 1, and thereby the elastic ribs 7 closely contact the interior side of the crown portion 1 by the elasticity thereof such that the crown portion 1 retains its shape.

[0030] The spirit of the present invention may be applied to any headwear that is provided with a crown portion 1, and therefore, the term “headwear” should be understood to mean any article that may normally be worn on a head, including a cap and a hat.

[0031] According to the first embodiment, the elastic ribs 7 are described as fitting in the space within the circumferential portion 5 and the crown portion 1. However, the scope of the present invention should not be understood to be limited thereto. The elastic ribs 7 may also be fixed to the circumferential portion 5, or they may be combined with the crown portion 1, e.g., by sewing. It is notable that the elastic ribs 7 may be combined with the crown portion 1 in any other fashion that enables the elastic ribs 7 to elastically support the interior side of the crown portion 1.

[0032]FIG. 3 illustrates an elastic apparatus of headwear according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along a line A-A of FIG. 3. In the drawings, an element that has the same function as a corresponding element of the first embodiment is designated by the same reference number as used in the first embodiment, for illustrational purpose and for better comprehension.

[0033] According to the second embodiment, an elastic apparatus 7 is assembled with a plurality of elastic ribs 7.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the elastic apparatus 8 of the second embodiment is formed by combining a plurality of elastic ribs 7 with a rotatable pin 9. In more detail, the rotatable pin 9 is rotatably inserted through the plurality of elastic ribs 7, and a separation-preventing member 11 for preventing separation of the elastic ribs 7 is attached to an end of the rotatable pin 9.

[0035] According to the second embodiment, arrangement of the elastic ribs 7 is freely changed such that the overall shape of the elastic apparatus 8 may be altered in a variety of fashions. Therefore, the position and/or arrangement of the elastic apparatus 8 in the crown portion 1 may be formed in a variety of fashions.

[0036] Usage and operation of the headwear according to the second embodiment is similar to and obvious from those according to the first embodiment. The second embodiment shows that the present invention can be embodied in various manners.

[0037] The elastic apparatus 8 of the second embodiment may have various shapes as described above, and accordingly, it may be applied to headwear having crown portions of various shapes.

[0038] Other features of headwear of the second embodiment may be obviously understood from the explanation of the headwear of the first embodiment, which accordingly should be considered to have been explained in connection with the second embodiment as well.

[0039] In the above explanation of the headwear according to the second embodiment of the present invention, it is explained that the elastic ribs 7 are combined by the rotatable pin 9 and the separation-preventing member 11. However, the scope of the present invention should not be understood as being limited thereto, since the elastic ribs 7 can be fixed by a device such as another kind of pin or adhered together by applying heat.

[0040]FIG. 5 illustrates headwear according to a third or fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along a line B-B of FIG. 5 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] According to headwear of the third embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of panels la are stitched to one another to form the crown portion 1, and an elastic member 13 is combined with each stitched portion 1b, replacing the previously described elastic ribs 7.

[0042] The elastic member 13 may be combined with the stitched portion 1 b by an adhesive applied to one or both sides of the elastic member 13. However, it is notable that it may also be combined with the stitched portion 1 b by sewing, etc.

[0043] The elastic member 13 is preferably made of a synthetic resin having good elasticity. However, it may also be made of any other material having sufficient elasticity to support the interior side of the crown portion 1.

[0044] The third embodiment shows a further exemplary headwear that is resistant to distortion and/or wrinkles of the crown portion 1 by elastically supporting the interior side of the crown portion 1. In particular, it is notable that, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, distortion and/or wrinkles of the crown portion 1 are successfully prevented without adopting the circumferential portion to hold the elastic apparatus 8.

[0045]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along a line B-B of FIG. 5 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 7, according to the fourth embodiment, a cover member 15 is provided to the crown portion 1 in the same arrangement as explained in connection with the elastic member 13 of the third embodiment, and an elastic rib 7 is inserted in the interior of the cover member 15. According to this structure, the cover 15 may be made of soft materials such as fabric or cloth, since the elastic rib 7 inside the cover member 15 elastically supports the crown portion 1 to maintain its shape.

[0047] General features of the fourth embodiment are obviously understood from the explanation of the third embodiment of the present invention, which accordingly should be considered to have been explained in connection with this fourth embodiment as well.

[0048] This fourth embodiment also shows a further example of headwear that is resistant to distortion and/or wrinkles of the crown portion 1 by elastically supporting the interior side of the crown portion 1.

[0049] As described above, according to headwear of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an elastic device such as the elastic rib or the elastic member elastically supports the interior side of the crown portion of headwear. Therefore, such headwear strongly withstands distortion and/or wrinkles of the crown portion that may appear from being stacked for long term storage or transportation, which in turn maintains the value of the headwear as merchandise.

[0050] In addition, a customer's interest is increased for such headwear since it may be displayed retaining its shape regardless of the material used for the crown portion.

[0051] In addition, a manufacturing process is simplified when the elastic ribs are fit in a space formed inside the crown portion.

[0052] Furthermore, such headwear prevents pressing down of the hair of a wearer and thereby keeps his/her hair style neat, since an elastic device supports the crown portion and thereby forms a gap between the crown portion and a head of the wearer.

[0053] While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. Headwear comprising: a crown portion for being worn on a head of a wearer; a visor portion projecting from the crown portion; and an elastic apparatus applying elastic force to the crown portion such that the crown portion retains a predetermined shape.
 2. The headwear of claim 1, wherein the elastic apparatus applies the elastic force in an outward direction of the crown portion.
 3. The headwear of claim 2, wherein the elastic apparatus comprises at least one elastic rib or wire.
 4. The headwear of claim 1, further comprising a circumferential portion combined with an interior side of the crown portion such that a space is formed within the circumferential portion and the interior side of the crown portion, wherein the elastic apparatus comprises an elastic member that is at least partially inserted in the space and elastically support the interior side of the crown portion.
 5. The headwear of claim 4, wherein the circumferential portion comprises an elastic band.
 6. The headwear of claim 1, wherein: the crown portion comprises a plurality of panels stitched to one another; and the elastic apparatus comprises at least one elastic member that is combined with the stitched portion of the panels and elastically supports the crown portion.
 7. The headwear of claim 6, wherein the elastic member is combined with the stitched portion by sewing.
 8. The headwear of claim 6, wherein the elastic member is combined with the stitched portion by an adhesive.
 9. The headwear of claim 1, wherein: the crown portion comprises a plurality of panels stitched to one another; the headwear further comprises a cover member combined with the stitched portion of the panels; and the elastic apparatus comprises at least one elastic member that is provided between the cover member and an interior side of the crown portion.
 10. A method, comprising: providing an exterior portion and an interior portion of a unit of headwear; and fitting a plurality of flexible portions between the exterior portion and the interior portion to flexibly support the exterior portion.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: inserting the interior portion to correspond to a circumference of the exterior portion.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the fitting comprises closely contacting the flexible portions with an interior side of the exterior portion.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the fitting comprises fixing the flexible portions to the interior portion.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the fitting comprises sewing the flexible portions to the exterior portion.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the flexible portions are elastic ribs.
 16. The method of claim 10, wherein the flexible portions are wires.
 17. The method of claim 10, further comprising: rotatably inserting a pin through the flexible portions; and attaching a separation-preventing member to an end of the pin to prevent separation of the flexible portions.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: changing an arrangement of the flexible portions to thereby change a shape of the headwear.
 19. A method, comprising: attaching a plurality of panels together to form a crown of a unit of headwear; and combining a flexible portion respectively with each of the panels to thereby flexibly support the crown.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the flexible portions are elastic members.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the flexible portions are elastic ribs, the method further comprising: providing a cover member respectively at a plurality of points of attachment of the panels; and inserting the flexible portions respectively into the cover members.
 22. A method, comprising: providing a crown of a unit of headwear; providing a circumferential portion at an interior circumference of the crown; fitting an elastic portion between the crown and the circumferential portion to provide an outward force to the crown; and providing a visor to project from the crown. 